Madring has closed its gates for an entire year after hosting Formula 1’s first Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madrid venue, and its debut exposed a fundamental problem: the circuit layout itself makes overtaking extremely difficult. Drivers broadly praised the challenge of driving the track, but concerns quickly emerged over its width, corner entries and the limited opportunities to race side by side.
The semi-street circuit was created specifically around Formula 1, close to one of Europe’s major cities, and no other events are currently scheduled there before the championship returns. Yet the concept encountered a less enthusiastic reality once racing began. The competitors offered constructive criticism, while many fans took a far harsher view of the spectacle.
Madring delivers a challenge but overtaking proves difficult
The first Spanish Grand Prix at Madring has now been completed. Viewed as a complete lap, the circuit is interesting and exciting when drivers are attacking the stopwatch, while the organisation surrounding the event also earned praise from those at the venue.
Formula 1 and its junior categories experienced the narrow spaces between the barriers and the unusual changes in vertical load through sections such as La Monumental. Before the Grand Prix weekend, several drivers had already warned about the lack of margin for error at the new circuit, with Madring’s barriers and demanding layout raising concerns over crashes and red flags.
In the end, there were relatively few incidents compared with the 19 red flags recorded across two days of Formula 3 testing in August. However, there might have been even fewer difficult situations if drivers had been given more space to attack or defend without having to cut corners or inevitably squeeze rivals towards the Tecpro barriers.
Turn 2 highlights the Madrid F1 circuit layout problem
The main weakness of the new Madrid F1 circuit is its layout, particularly the width available in specific sections and especially on corner entry. Turn 2 proved the clearest example. After a 523-metre straight, there is simply not enough space to make a genuine late-braking attack work effectively.
A similar problem affects the following section, which includes the 837-metre Ribera del Sena straight. Straight Mode can be used on both of these sections, but in practice it offers very little benefit if a driver cannot convert the extra speed into a realistic passing opportunity at the next corner.
The issue is therefore not that Madring lacks long acceleration zones. Instead, those straights lead into sections where the geometry and available width make it extremely difficult for two cars to contest the same piece of track.
Carlos Sainz wants changes before Formula 1 returns to Madrid
Carlos Sainz said immediately after the race on Sky Sport F1 that changes will be necessary. As the current president of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, he is expected to hold a meeting with his fellow drivers to prepare concrete proposals that could be implemented before next year’s event.
The most likely areas for modification are Turn 2 and the Turns 5-6 chicane, with the objective of creating additional overtaking opportunities. That would address one of the clearest weaknesses to emerge from the inaugural race while attempting to preserve the parts of the circuit that drivers enjoyed.
Madring had been one of the most unusual additions to the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, combining permanent-style sections with the confined characteristics normally associated with street circuits. Its first race showed that this mixture can create an engaging driving challenge without necessarily producing good wheel-to-wheel racing.
Drivers praise Madring but add important reservations
Most drivers spoke positively about the track, although their praise often came with qualifications. Fernando Alonso offered one of the more sarcastic assessments, joking that La Monumental could even be taken by “my press officer”. Max Verstappen, meanwhile, pointed to how easy defending could become, saying that a driver effectively only needed to “drive in the middle”.
Those comments underline the contrast at the heart of Madring. A corner can be spectacular or enjoyable from inside the cockpit without necessarily contributing to a more competitive Grand Prix. A circuit that rewards precision over a single lap does not automatically provide enough space or braking opportunities for overtaking.
Fans deliver the harshest verdict on Formula 1’s new Madrid track
The strongest criticism ultimately came from the fans. Even more casual followers described the race as disappointing and processional, focusing less on the technical challenge of the venue and more on the limited action between the cars.
That criticism also feeds into a broader debate about the direction Formula 1 has taken with modern circuits since the arrival of Jeddah. Engineering creativity can appear, paradoxically, increasingly confined between walls as the championship pursues events closer to major cities.
The risk is that Formula 1 prioritises the long-term challenge of bringing circuits into metropolitan areas rather than turning traditional race venues themselves into destinations that drivers and supporters want to visit. Madring’s first weekend showed that Madrid can deliver an impressive event and an interesting lap, but before Formula 1 returns, the circuit may need changes if it is to deliver better racing as well.
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